Regular Session 2021-2022 Senate Bill 1267 P.N. 1707

PRINTER'S NO. 1707

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

1267

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, FONTANA, CAPPELLETTI, COMITTA AND HUGHES,

JUNE 3, 2022

REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JUNE 3, 2022

AN ACT

Establishing the Office of Health Equity and the Office of

Health Equity Advisory Committee; and imposing duties on the

Department of Health.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office of

Health Equity Act.

Section 2. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Advisory committee." The Office of Health Equity Advisory

Committee established under section 4.

"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

"Health disparities." Preventable differences in the burden

of disease, injury or violence or in opportunities to achieve

optimal health that are experienced by a population in

comparison with another population.

"Health equity." As follows:

(1) The attainment of the highest level of health for

all people.

(2) The achievement of health equity requires valuing

everyone equally, with focused and ongoing societal efforts

to address avoidable inequalities and historical and

contemporary injustices, and to eliminate health and health

care disparities.

"Office." The Office of Health Equity established under

section 3.

"Secretary." The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.

Section 3. Office of Health Equity.

(a) Establishment.--The Office of Health Equity is

established within the department. At a minimum, the office

shall include a director and appropriate staff.

(b) Powers and duties.--The office shall have the following

powers and duties, without limitation:

(1) Providing leadership to increase public awareness of

health disparities in this Commonwealth.

(2) Advocating for the development of programs to

address health disparities in this Commonwealth and provide

health equity.

(3) Working with policymakers, insurers, health care

providers and communities to implement policies and programs

that result in a measurable and sustained improvement in the

health status of underserved and disparate populations in

this Commonwealth.

(4) Collaborating with State agencies, academic

institutions, community-based organizations, health partners,

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health care providers and others in the public and private

sectors to address health disparities in this Commonwealth.

(1) No later than March 31 of each year, the office

shall prepare and distribute an annual report on the status

of health disparities in this Commonwealth for the preceding

calendar year, with recommendations to eliminate health

disparities in this Commonwealth.

(2) The office shall transmit copies of each annual

report under this subsection to:

(i) The President pro tempore of the Senate.

(ii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(iii) The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the

Senate.

(iv) The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the

House of Representatives.

(v) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.

(vi) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Health Committee of the House of Representatives.

(vii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of

the Human Services Committee of the House of

Representatives.

(3) Each annual report under this subsection shall be

posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet

website.

Section 4. Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee.

(a) Establishment.--The Office of Health Equity Advisory

Committee is established within the office.

(b) Membership.--The membership of the advisory committee

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shall be at the discretion of the secretary but shall, at a

minimum, include representatives of academia, the provider

community and the faith-based community and organized

representatives of disparate populations within this

Commonwealth.

the following powers and duties, without limitation:

(1) Advising the secretary on matters concerning health

disparities in this Commonwealth and recommending actions

that are data-driven, evidence-based and culturally aware.

(2) Increasing public awareness of the existence of

health disparities in this Commonwealth.

(3) Mobilizing Statewide, community and individual

actions to eliminate health disparities in this Commonwealth.

(4) Assisting in the identification of Federal and

private foundation funding to support programs to address

health disparities in this Commonwealth.

(5) Assisting in the identification of the conditions

and causes of health disparities in this Commonwealth and

prioritizing strategies to address the elimination of health

disparities.

(6) Enhancing the coordination and support of existing

Commonwealth programs, including:

(i) Identifying evidence-based practices and

providing advice and guidance on public and private

resources.

(ii) Disseminating information on programs to reduce

and eliminate identified health disparities.

(iii) Utilizing assessment tools to improve cultural

competency of health care providers.

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(7) Providing advice and guidance to the Governor

through the office and the secretary on programs and

activities to accelerate the elimination of health

disparities in the delivery of health care in this

Commonwealth.

Section 5. Cooperation.

Each department, agency, office, authority, board, commission

or similar governmental entity under the jurisdiction of the

Governor shall cooperate with the office to support and promote

the mission and goals of the office.

Section 6. Powers and duties of department.

The department shall promulgate any rules, regulations or

policies necessary to implement this act.

Section 7. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.

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